the result of politics without moral absolutes is mass murder via abortion, perversion promoted through pornography, far more children being fiddled with, kids totally in rebellion with authority, people topping themselves through guilt,std'd at record rates. Yeah lets keep going down the secular humanist path of self destruction and demonise anyone who dares speak against the mantra. At least it makes us comfortable in our self righteousness. Use the pseudo science fantasy of evolution to justify our 'intelligent ' moral relativsim just like we use pseudo science to justify an idiotic carbon tax. Really rational are our secular humanist who only have self interest at heart.

It always seems a bit out of place to me. Our nation is characterised by secularism, and its political system is ostensibly secular. It's certainly true that the bulk of our MPs come from somewhat Christian backgrounds (however far back), and I'd hazard a guess that a fair portion of them listed some Christian denomination or other in the latest census, and that's fine. As individuals, they can be religious; collectively, they are a secular institution. I'm not sure why they keep doing it - perhaps because they always have? Surely it can't be because they are servants of the Queen, the head of her own church and Defender of the Faith? That role is filled by the Governor-General.

As wobbles has already said, hollow ritual - parliamentary ritual at that - is fine. It's all part of the show, and I think a little tradition here and there is nice. Incorporating semi-religious ritual, however, may no longer be relevant or appropriate.

Hey SPQR,

If I were an infallible cyclist, I would rather be on the race-course than in parliament.

As for the Lord's Prayer, according to Jewish law it is forbidden to pray or read scripture in a toilet as it is considered a filthy place (that's the one place in the house where orthodox Jews keep their magazines and secular literature, which is also why they stay there that long, but I digress) - how much more for praying in parliament!

i like that bit re the toilet

speaking of which..anyone know what that vile spirit is
in the poolroom..of old parlement house

i saw spirit
but its a vile stench

our govt parlemt house..was for that parlement
the members numbers..havnt changed

but the beurocracy grew
and grew..and we built them..a new parlement

run by the beurocracy
for their mates...[must have planned it in the ol pool rooom]
smells like someone died there[holt][?]

Speaking of poolrooms when I was a little boy going into a poolroom or a bowling alley was something no respectable person did. Mr. Cantwell, a good teacher and a Puritanical Catholic, was one of my teachers. I remember him saying, "Boys and girls, do you know what a golf course is? That's a poolroom outdoors."

not quite as bad as Sharia in Lakemba, is it?